Far East Kingdoms

China

The Legendary Period

The Age of the Five Rulers, lasting for 647 years.

Hsia / Xia Dynasty
2205 - 1766 BC (1962 - 1523 BC)

Upper China; Longhan Period. Yu the Great was the founder of the Xia Dynasty, the first historical dynasty of China. His capital was probably at Erlitou. There were sixteen succeeding emperors in this line.

2205 BC

Yu the Great

Shang Dynasty
1766 - 1122 BC (1523 - 1028 BC)

1766 BC - ?

Ch'eng-tang (Shang tang)

T'ai-chia

Wu-ling

T'ai-keng

Hsiao-chia

Yung-chi

T'ai-wu

Chung-ting

Wai-jen

Tsien-chia

Tsu-yi

Tsu-hsin

Ch'iang-chia

Tsu-ting

Nan-keng

Hu-chia

P'an-keng

Hsiao-hsin

Hsiao-yi

Wu-ting

Tsu-kêng

Tsu-chia

Lin-hsin

K'ang-tin

Wu-yi

Wên-wu-ting

Ti-yi

? - 1122 BC

Ti-hsin

Chou / Zhou / Shu Dynasty
1122 - 255 BC (1027 - 256 BC)

EARLY ZHOU PERIOD
1122 - 771 BC

WESTERN ZHOU
1122 - 722 BC

Capital: Hao.

EASTERN ZHOU
1122 - 722 BC

Capital: Luoyang.

1100 BC

Wu Wang

Western Zhou.

Chêng Wang

K'ang Wang

c.950 BC

Chao Wang

Western Zhou.

Mu Wang

Kung Wang

I Wang

Hsiao Wang

I Wang

878 BC

Li Wang

841 BC

First solid date in Chinese chronology.

827 BC

Hsüan Wang

781 - 771 BC

Yu Wang

Western Zhou.

MIDDLE ZHOU PERIOD
771 - 473 BC

771 BC

P'ing Wang

Eastern Zhou.

722 - 481 BC

Spring and Autumn Period.

719 BC

Huan Wang

696 BC

Chuang Wang

681 BC

Hsi Wang

676 BC

Hui Wang

651 BC

Hsiang Wang

618 BC

Ch'ing Wang

612 BC

K'uang Wang

606 BC

Ting Wang

585 BC

Chien Wang

571 BC

Ling Wang

544 BC

Ching Wang

519 BC

Ching Wang

Warring States Era
481 - 221 BC

LATE ZHOU PERIOD
472 - 256 BC

475 BC

Yüan Wang

468 BC

Chêng-ting Wang

440 BC

K'ao Wang

425 BC

Wei-lieh Wang

401 BC

An Wang

c.400 BC

The dynasty collapses and fragments.

375 BC

Lieh Wang

368 BC

Hsien Wang

320 BC

Shên-ching Wang

314 - 256 BC

Nan Wang

King of Chou.

311 - 279 BC

Chao-hsiang Wang

King of Yen.

Ch'in / Qin Dynasty
255 - 207 BC

The kingdom of Qin was the westernmost of the seven kingdoms, forming a wide north-south barrier to the barbarian lands beyond, and bordering the kingdom of Zhao to the east. In his time as the third ruler of the dynasty, Wang Chêng was the most feared leader, regarded as a common threat by all the other kingdoms. His ruthless drive to unite China saw him conquer the others one by one. (There are numerous tales of assassins sent to kill the king, one of which is depicted in the Chinese feature film, Hero / Ying Xiong.)

250 BC

Hsiao-wên Wang

King of Qin.

249 BC

Chuang-hsing Wang

King of Qin.

247 - 221 BC

Wang Chêng

King of Qin. Upon the reunification of China, he changed his name.

222 BC

The Qin conquer the Yen/Yan, who also rule Korean Chosen.

221 BC

TheWarring States Period comes to an end as the Qin conquer the last remaining kingdoms and unify China. Emperor Shi Huangdi begins construction of the Great Wall to keep out the barbarians and ensure peace for China. He also  creates a terracotta army to safeguard him in the afterlife.

221 - 210 BC

Shi Huangdi / Shih-huang-ti / Qin Shihuang

Formerly Wang Chêng. Reunified China.

210 - 207 BC

Erh-shih-huang-ti

Puppet ruler. Second son. Committed suicide.

207 BC

?

Puppet ruler.

Early Han (Western) Dynasty
207 BC - AD 25

Travellers to Japan under the Wei Dynasty reported on its early development as a kingdom.

207 - 202 BC

Qin/Han War.

207 -202 BC

Kao Tsu

202 - 195 BC

Liu Bang

195 - 180 BC

Empress Lü

194 BC

Korean Old Chosen rebels against Chinese rule and regains independence as Wiman Chosen.

195 - 187 BC

Hui Ti

187 - 179 BC

Lu Hou

179 - 156 BC

Wên Ti

Son of Liu Bang.

156 - 140 BC

Ching Ti

140 - 87 BC

Wu Di / Wu Ti

111 BC

The Chieu rulers of Nam Viet are defeated and conquered by China, and only re-emerge in AD 544.

86 - 73 BC

Chao Ti

73 - 48 BC

Hsüan Ti

48 - 32 BC

Yuan Ti

32 - 6 BC

Ch'eng Ti

6 BC - AD 1

Ai Ti

AD 1

P'ing Ti

Eight year-old.

1 - 5

Wang Mang

5 - 9

Ju-tzu

Child.

Hsin / Xin (New) Dynasty
AD 9 - 23

9 - 23

Wang Mang

Later Han (Eastern) Restoration
AD 23 - 220

23 - 55

Guang wu di / Kuang-wu Ti

55 - 76

Ming Ti

76 - 89

Chang Ti

89 - 106

Ho Ti

106 - 107

Shang Ti

107 - 126

An Ti

126 - 145

Shun Ti

145 - 146

Ch'ung Ti

146 - 147

Chih Ti

147 - 168

Huan Ti

168 - 189

Lingdi / Ling Ti

189 - 220

Xiandi / Hsien Ti

Puppet. Period of anarchy.

Warlords of the Three Kingdoms
AD 220 - 265

MINOR HAN (SHU HAN) DYNASTY
AD 221 - 265

220 - 223

Cao Pei / Chao-lieh Ti (Wei Dyn)

Wei King.

223 - 263

Hou Chu

263

The Shu kingdom is subjugated.

WEI DYNASTY
AD 220 - 265

Travellers to Japan under the Wei Dynasty reported on its early development as a kingdom.

244

The Wei capture the capital of Korean Koguryo.

WU DYNASTY
(AD 220 - 258)

265 - 589

China is split into North and South kingdoms.

Jin / Tsin Dynasty AD 265 - 589
NORTH CHINA				SOUTH CHINA
WESTERN JIN / TSIN DYNASTY AD 265 - 317 The Western Tsin were driven out of Korea in 313.				EASTERN JIN / TSIN DYNASTY AD 317 - 420
265 - 290	Wu Ti / Sima Yan			317 - 323	Jin Sima (Yuan Di)
280	The Wu Kingdom is subjugated.			323 - 326	Ming Ti
290	Hui Ti			326 - 343	Ch'êng Ti
307	Huai Ti			343 - 345	K'ang Ti
307	The Succession Civil Wars take place.			345 - 362	Mu Ti
308 - 310	Liu Yuan			362 - 366	Ai Ti
313	Min Ti			366 - 371	Fei Ti
				371 - 373	Chien-wên Ti
				373 - 397	Hsiao-wu Ti
Sixteen Kingdoms of the Five Barbarians AD 317 - 386				397 - 419	An Ti
1. NORTHERN WEI [WÈI] DYNASTY AD 386 - 534				419 - 420	Kung Ti / Gong	Abdicated.
	(Unknown)
? - 471	Tuoba Hung
471 - ?	Xiaowen			SUNG / SONG (ANTERIOR) DYNASTY AD 420 - 479
	(Unknown)			420 - 423	Wu Ti
	(Unknown)			423 - 424	Fei Ti
- 515	(Unknown)			424 - 454	Wen Ti
515 - 529	Empress Dowager Ling			454 - 465	Hsiao-wu Ti
515 - 528	(Unknown)			465 - 473	Ming Ti
	(Unknown)			473 - 477	Fei Ti
528 - 529	(Unknown)			477 - 479	Shun Ti
529 - 534	(Unknown)
534	Northern Wei splits into Eastern and Western Wei, Chi and Zhou.
				CH'I / QI (SOUTHERN) DYNASTY AD 479 - 502
2. WESTERN WEI DYNASTY AD 535 - 556				479 - 483	Kao Ti
535 - ?	(Unknown)			483 - 494	Wu Ti
? -556	(Unknown)			494 - 499	Ming Ti
556	Western Wei becomes Northern Zhou.			499 - 501	Tung Hun Ho
				501 - 502	Ho Ti
3. EASTERN WEI DYNASTY AD 534 - 550
550	Eastern Wei becomes Northern Chi.			LIANG (SOUTHERN) DYNASTY AD 502 - 557
				502 - 549	Wu Ti
4. NORTHERN CH'I [QÍ] DYNASTY AD 550 - 577				550 - 552	Chien-wên Ti
577	Conquered by Northern Zhou.			552 - 555	Yüan Ti
				555 - 557	Ching Ti
5. NORTHERN CHOU [ZHOU] DYNASTY AD 557 - 581
	(Unknown)			CHEN (SOUTHERN) DYNASTY AD 549 - 589
? - 578	Wu			557 - 560	Wu Ti
578 - 581	Yu-wen Bin			560 - 567	Wên Ti
	Seven unknown rulers in this period			567 - 569	Fei Ti
577	Conquers Northern Chi.			569 - 583	Hsuan Ti
				583 - 589	Hou Chu
				589	North conquers South and unites China.

Sui Dynasty
AD 590 - 617

590 - 604

Yang Jian / Chien(Wen Ti)

Usurper General.

603

The Early Li Dynasty of Nam Viet is conquered, and remains under Chinese control until 939.

604 - 617

Yangdi / Yang Kuang

612

The Korean state of Koguryo is invaded, but the Chinese are defeated.

617

Kung Ti

Tang / T'ang Dynasty
AD 617 - 689

617 - 626

Li Yuan (Gaozu / Kao Tsu)

626 - 649

Taizong (T'ai Tsung / Li Shih-min)

630 - 700

The legendary life of Ti Jen-chieh (Di Renjie), or Judge Dee. Nestorian missionaries arrive in Ch'ang-an in 635. The conquest of the Tarim Basin takes place in 645.

645 - 647

An attempt to occupy Korean Koguryo fails.

649 - 683

Gaozong / Kao Tsung

659 - 665

Transoxania (above and east of Persia) is occupied.

660

The Korean kingdom of Paekche is conquered.

668 - 676

Korean Silla is occupied. Koguryo falls.

683 - 689

Chung Tsung

Son of Kao Tsung.

Chou / Zhou Dynasty
AD 689 - 705

689 - 705

Empress Wu Zhao

Wei Dynasty
AD 705 - 710

705 - 710

?

Name unknown.

Tang Dynasty Restoration
AD 710 - 906

710

Chung Tsun

Restored.

710 - 712

Jui Tsung

712 - 756

Hsuan Tsung / Xuanzong

751

The battle of Talas. Arabs defeat the Chinese under Kao Hsien-chih, but advance no further into Central Asia.

Greater Yen Dynasty
AD 756 - 761

756 - 757

General An Lushan

Usurper rebel.

757

?

Son.

Tang Dynasty Continued

756 - 762

Su Tsung

763

The Chinese lose the Tarim Basin to the Tibetans.

762 - 780

Daizong / T'ai Tsung

780 - 805

Tê Tsung

805 - 806

Shun Tsung

806 - 821

Hsien Tsung

821 - 825

Mu Tsung

825 - 827

Ching Tsung

827 - 841

Wen Tsung

841 - 847

Wu Tsung

847 - 860

Hsüan Tsung

860 - 874

Yi Tsung

874 - 889

Hsi Tsung

889 - 904

Chao Tsung

904 - 906

Chao-hsüan Ti

907 - 1227

Tartar tribes encroach on China's borders and found several of their own dynasties, ruling areas of China itself. This leads to much instability within Chinese China, and a period of civil war.

Liao (Khitan) Tartar Dynasty
AD 907 - 1125

1125

The Liao are displaced by the Kin/Chin and retreat into Central Asia where they form a short-lived empire, the Qara-Khitai.

Civil War Period of the Five Dynasties
AD 907 - 960

1. LIANG (POSTERIOR) DYNASTY
AD 907 - 923

907 - 915

T'ai Tau

915 - 923

Mo Ti

2. T'ANG (POSTERIOR) DYNASTY
AD 923 - 936

923 - 926

Chuang Tsung

926 - 934

Ming Tsung

934 - 936

Min Ti

3. TSIN / JIN (POSTERIOR) DYNASTY
AD 936 - 947

936 - 943

Kao Tsu

939

Nam Viet briefly reasserts its independence with the founding of the Ngo Dynasty.

943 - 947

Ch'u Ti

4. HAN (POSTERIOR) DYNASTY
AD 947 - 951

947 - 951

Kao Tsu

Same as Tsin ruler?

5. CHOU / ZHOU (POSTERIOR) DYNASTY
AD 951 - 960

951 - 954

T'ai Tsu

954 - 960

Shih Tsung

Sung / Song (Northern) Dynasty
AD 960 - 1127

960

Chao Kuang-yin

Re-imposed unity.

960 - 976

T'ai Tsu

965 - 968

Nam Viet is briefly controlled by China.

976 - 998

T'ai Tsung

981

An attempted invasion of Nam Viet is repulsed.

998 - 1023

Chên Tsung

1023 - 1064

Jên Tsung

1064 - 1068

Ying Tsung

1068 - 1086

Shên Tsung

1086 - 1101

Chê Tsung

1101 - 1126

Hui Tsung

1126 - 1127

Ch'in Tsung

1127

Displaced by the Kin / Chin.

Hsi-Hsia (Tangut) Tartar State
AD 990 - (1032) -1227

1226 - 1227

Conquered by Mongols.

Kin / Chin / Jin (Jurchen / Nü-Chên) Tartar Dynasty
AD 1115 - 1234

1230 - 1234

Conquered by Mongols.

Liao (Qara-Khitaï) (Western) Tartar Dynasty
AD 1125 - (1141) -1218

After being ousted from China in 1125, the Qara-Khitai ruled the Transoxiana region from Samarkand.

1217 - 1218

Conquered by Mongols.

Sung / Song (Southern) Dynasty
AD 1127 - 1279

1127 - 1163

Kao Tsung

1163 - 1190

Hsiao Tsung

1190 - 1195

Kuang Tsung

1195 - 1225

Ning Tsung

1225 - 1265

Li Tsung

1265 - 1275

Tu Tsung

1275 - 1276

Kung Tsung

1276 - 1278

Tuan Tsung

1278 - 1279

Ti Ping

1267 - 1276

Conquered by the Yuan Dynasty of Mongols.

Yuan (Mongolian) Dynasty
AD 1279 - 1368

The Great Khans of the Mongolian Empire took control of China through a series of conquests.

1206 - 1227

Temüjin / Chingiz Khan

Named Chingiz Khan by the Chinese Emperor.

1229 - 1241

Ögedei Khan

1241 - 1246

Töregene Khatun

Regent.

1246 - 1248

Guyuk Khan

1248 - 1251

Oghul Ghaymish

Regent.

1251 - 1259

Mongke Khan

1260 - 1294

Kublai (Qubilai) Khan

(Shih Tsu 1280) Ruled China from 1279.

1267 - 1279

The Southern Sung are conquered.

1294 - 1307

Temur Öljeytu Khan

(Ch'eng Tsung 1295)

1307 - 1311

Qayshan Guluk / Hai-Shan

(Wu Tsung 1308)

1311 - 1320

Ayurparibhadra Ayurbarwada

(Jên Tsung 1312)

1320 - 1323

Suddhipala Gege'en / Shidebala

(Ying Tsung 1321)

1323 - 1328

Yesun-Temur

(Tai-ting Ti 1324)

1328

Arigaba Aragibag

1328 - 1329

Jijaghatu Toq-Temur

(Ming Tsung 1329)

1329

Qoshila Qutuqtu

(Wen Tsung? 1330?)

1329 - 1332

Jijaghatu Toq-Temur

1332 - 1333

Rinchenpal Irinchibal

1333 - 1370

Toghan-Temur

(Shun Ti 1333) Fled to Mongolia.

1368

The Mongols are expelled from China.

1370 - 1388

Togus-Temur

Ming (Bright) Dynasty
AD 1368 - 1644

1368 - 1398

T'ai Tsu / Chu Yüan-chang / Taizu

Ruled most of southern China from 1366. Hung Wu Era.

1398 - 1402

Civil War between rival claimants.

1398 - 1402

Hui Ti

Chien-wen Era.

1402 - 1425

Ch'eng Tsu

Yung-Lo Era.

1402 - 1425

Ch'eng Tsu moves the capital from Nanking (Nan-ching / Nanjing) to Peking (Pei-ching / Beijing).

1407 - 1428

Nam Viet is occupied by China.

1425 - 1246

Jen Tsung

Hung-hsi Era.

1426 - 1436

Hsüan Tsung

Hsuan-te Era.

1436 - 1450

Ying Tsung

Cheng-T'ung Era.

1450 - 1457

T'ai Tsung / Ching Ti

Ching-t'ai Era.

1457 - 1465

Ying Tsung

Restored. T'ien-shun Era.

1465 - 1488

Hsien Tsung

Ch'eng-hua Era.

1488 - 1506

Hsiao Tsung

Hung-chih Era.

1506 - 1522

Wu Tsung

Cheng-te Era.

1522 - 1567

Shih Tsung

Chia-tsing Era.

1567 - 1573

Mu Tsung / Chu Tsai-hou

Lung-ch'ing Era.

1573 - 1620

Shên Tsung / Chu I-chun

Wan-Li Era.

1620 - 1621

Kuang Tsung / Chu Ch'ang-lo

T'ai-ch'ang Era.

1621 - 1628

Hsi Tsung

T'ien-ch'i Era.

1628 - 1644

Szu (Kuang) Tsung / Chu Yu-chien

Hanged himself upon Manchu approach. Ch'ung-chen Era.

1644

Pei-ching is occupied by rebels, the emperor commits suicide, and the rebels are thrown out by Manchuria. A Manchurian occupation begins in the north, while an independent remnant of the Ming briefly survives in the south.

Ming (Southern) Dynasty
AD 1644 - 1662

1644 - 1645

Fu Wang, Prince of Fu / Chu Yu-sung

Hung-kuang Era.

1645 - 1646

Tang Wang / Chu Yü-chien

Lung-wu Era.

1646 - 1662

Yung-ming Wang / Chu Yu-lang

Yung-li Era.

1662

The emperor is captured in Burma in 1661, and executed by Manchus in 1662.

Manchu Ch'ing / Qin (Clear) Dynasty
AD 1644 - 1911

1644 - 1662

Shih Tsu

No Era.

1662 - 1723

Shêng Tsu

K'ang-Hsi Era.

1723 - 1736

Shih Tsung

Yung-chêng Era.

1736 - 1796

Kao Tsung

Ch'ien-Lung Era.

1792

Nepalese expansion is halted by defeat at the hands of the Chinese in Tibet.

1796 - 1821

Jên Tsung

Chia-ch'ing Era.

1821 - 1851

Hsüan Tsung

Tao-kuang Era.

1851 - 1862

Wen Tsung

Hsien-fêng Era.

1862 - 1908

Tz'u Hsi (Cixi) the Empress Dowager

No Era.

1862 - 1875

Mu Tsung

T'ung-chih Era.

1875 - 1909

Tê Tsung

Kuang-hsu Era.

1909 - 1911

Mo Ti (Pu Yi)

Hsuan-t'ung Era.

1911

The last Chinese emperor is deposed by republicans.

1949

The Republic of China is conquered by the communist forces of Mao Tse Tung. The New Republic of China is declared on Taiwan by the exiled General Chiang Kai Chek.